Foreign Minister  Hon Jalil Abbas Jilani welcomed new High Commissioner Admiral Ravindra C Wijegunaratne (Retd) to Islamabad and  noted long  standing brotherly  friendship Sri Lanka- Pakistan had from time of Independence. He also conveyed his greetings to HE the President Ranil Wickremesinghe and acknowledged  President ‘s  efforts  and leadership in steady recovery from Economic Crisis of Sri Lanka and Pakistan’s support to that effort.

Further he thanked Government of Sri Lanka and people for donating more  than 35,000 eye corneas to Pakistan people.

New High Commissioner explained his commitment to enhance bilateral trade relations and to improve air connectivity between two countries and acknowledged Minister’s support to Sri Lanka as Foreign Secretary of Pakistan and his efforts to have Political leadership visit to Pakistan in first quarter of next year.

Also mentioned his personal attachment to Pakistan, specially to Pakistan Navy as a student  at Pakistan Navy War College in 1995/96 and then as a visiting lecturer on Asymmetric Naval Warfare.

Minister acknowledged the fact new High Commissioner is the ONLY Sri Lankan recipient of Pakistan’s highest honour – Nishan-e-Imitiyaz (Military) medal and wish him all the best in his tenure as Sri Lanka High Commissioner at Islamabad.